Reolink’s PoE-enabled home security camera is a great value

Price When Reviewed

$99.99

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Reolink continues to expand its stable of home security cameras at a rapid clip. The manufacturer’s innovative dual-lens camera recently left us with concerns about its connectivity issues, but the RLC-1212A, a powerful 12MP indoor/outdoor camera, is a straightforward solid performer and a great value at just $100.

The 1212A has a utilitarian design with a metal aluminum bullet-style casing. Boasting a robust IP66 rating, meaning it should be resistant to dust ingress as well as powerful jets of water, the camera runs on Power over Ethernet (PoE), a technology that uses a single ethernet cable to carry both data and the necessary electrical current to power the device. This requires a special type of ethernet switch to work; I used a TP-Link JetStream 8-Port Gigabit Smart PoE+ switch. With this or any other PoE switch setup, you plug an ethernet cable from the camera into the switch and then plug the switch into your router with a separate ethernet cable.

This review is part of TechHive’s coverage of the best home security cameras, where you’ll find reviews of the competition’s offerings, plus a buyer’s guide to the features you should consider when shopping for this type of product.

Setup

After you connect the camera to your network but before you install it, you’ll need to download the Reolink app and add the 1212A. This involves scanning a QR code on the camera’s casing, which automatically adds the correct model to the app’s list of connected devices. From there, you can proceed to mount the camera. Reolink supplies the necessary hardware to attach the wall mount, but if you want to thread the wiring through an exterior wall into your home, you’ll need some extra tools on hand.

Reolink

The 1212A has impressive specs, including…